[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
AFFAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[March 20,]
SECTION 6.
[10118]
(No. 91.) Sir,
No. 1.
Sir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received March 20.)
THE Pienma incident has formed the subject of frequent notices in the vernacular
Peking, Febuary 28, 1911. press for some months past, but the majority of the comments have shown little knowledge of the question, and have given but slight indication of the attitude of the Chinese Government.
The two articles which I have the honour to enclose herewith in translation are better informed than the usual run of newspaper criticism.
The first, which appeared on the 15th instant, shows a tolerably fair acquaintance with the situation, and confirms the general impression that the Chinese Government are in no mood to resort to forcible measures.
The second is the text of an appeal which the Viceroy of Yunnan issued on the 26th January last to the Viceroys and Governors of the different provinces in the Empire.
This statement, which is apparently intended to explain the Viceroy's position, and to serve as a sort of apologia for his enforced inaction, is especially interesting, as clearly showing that he had been commanded by Imperial edict to avoid the use of force. He adds, pathetically, that it is a matter of common knowledge that the slender forces at his command render the adoption of this course a necessity, but this frank admission does not prevent him from holding that it would be nothing short of a national disgrace not to make the withdrawal of the British troops a condition precedent to the discussion of the boundary question.
It is perhaps noteworthy that his appeal for advice is especially addressed to the Viceroy of Szechuan, whose province stands in close relationship to Yunnan in this
A copy of this despatch is being forwarded to the Viceroy of India.
matter.
I have, &c.
J. N. JORDAN.
(Translation.)
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Newspaper Extract.
PIENMA. The "Chung Wai Jih Pao" of the 15th gives a short description of the situation in Yünnan. It states as follows:-
On the British troops setting out to occupy Pienma, the Viceroy of Yunnan instructed two battalions of the brigade quartered at Tali Fu to proceed towards the frontier to oppose them. We now hear from Peking that the British troops have already reached Pienma, having arrived by two different routes from Mi Chih No (Myitkyina). There are 2,000 men, 2,500 horses, besides engineers and transport. The military commander is Colonel "Fo Meng," but the magistrate, Mr. "Lang Tz'u," is in supreme command. They say that all the country west of Kao Li Kung Shan belongs to them, and they have compelled the three villages of P'ai Lai, Tzu Chu, and Pienma to submit to them. They are already erecting fortifications at Pienma, as though they intend to make a long stay there. The provincial troops left Tali Fu about the middle of last month, and the march ought to take about twenty days, but there has been no news of any fighting yet.
The greater portion of the Burmah-Yuunan frontier has not yet been delimited. As to the portion at present in question, China regards the En Nai Ch'ia River (Nmai Kha) as the boundary, while Great Britain affirms that it should be the Kao Li Kung Shan. In the additional Barmah-Yonnan Frontier Treaty it was laid down that latitude 25′ 35′′ north should be regarded as the southern boundary of Yeh Jen Shan (the same place as the British call Kao Li Kung Shan), and by the treaty the frontier was to run north from this point, and was not to veer round to the east. Now when
[1918 u-6]
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